So far we have started bringing our lunch to work, used the Latte Factor, cut back on travel expenses, taken a long hard look at our finances, negotiating your bills, found way to make money (or other things you need) by bartering, implemented a 30 day rule for purchases over a certain amount, found 25 ways to have frugal fun this Spring, and discovered 18 frugal and romantic dates. Hopefully, after looking at your finances you found some more places to cut back.
_______________________________________________________There is a difference between frugal and cheap, I swear there is. Frugal people look for great deals and ways to save oney, cheap people...are just cheap. PopSugar's Smart Living Section lists 44 Tried and Tested Tips For a Frugal Life...
Reddit user omegaphora says: 
Buy Whole Hams and Have the Deli Guy Slice It
Reddit user POTATO_IN_MY_OVEN says:
"Before you buy something at a brick-and-mortar store, check Amazon! You can usually find a generic version for much cheaper. The markup for name brands is ridiculous. For instance, I take Loratadine for my allergies. The name brand Claritin costs anywhere from $5 to $10 for 10 pills at my local grocery stores. On Amazon, you can get a bottle of generic Loratadine containing 400 pills for $18! Same active ingredient, for 10 times cheaper."
Reddit user professional_slacker says:
"Ever since I bought my house and took on a mortgage payment of $800 a month, I have had my bank take $400 out of my paycheck every other week and put it into a separate savings account. Then at the end of the month, I make my mortgage payment directly from that account. I never see the money, so I don't miss it, and there's no way for me to run out of money for my house payment. It makes things so much easier, especially for a habitual overspender like me.
"I've decided to start doing the same for all my bills — figure up how much I pay per month for all my bills, add in some savings, then take half of that amount out of every check so that my entire net salary is 'my' money. Hardly a new and exciting idea, but as somebody who has gotten into trouble in the past by spending money irresponsibly, this has been a great way to keep me from overspending (or at the very least keep me from defaulting on my bills by overspending)."
Pick Your Own Fruits From a Local Orchard
i_forget_my_userids spent $32 to pick her own fruit from a local orchard and managed to get a lot of
bang for her buck. The user picked 10 ears of corn, about four pounds of jalapeños, eight poblanos, and approximately 170 peaches.
The user obviously can't finish the produce before it goes bad, so she will can most of the fruit to use later.
Reddit user manbeef says:
"Hit up a couple of grocery stores in your area or look at flyers. Compare your food staples and see which store is cheaper. Hopefully you'll notice a trend. In my area, I have three grocery stores to choose from: one is overall a lot more expensive, but has a lot of unique and hard-to-find items; the second is expensive, but has a good selection of produce and meats; the third one is cheaper overall, but lacks some items. I usually shop on my way home from work, hitting the cheap store first, getting everything I can, then hitting the midpriced store the next day on my way home for the odd item I can't get.
"What you should be able to do is walk into a store, look at a product, and know what a good price for that product is. If it's a deal, buy it, or buy some extra. I still get caught buying something at one store when I don't know the average price, then realizing at the next store that it's half the price there."
Reddit user Cheesy_bacon says:
"The blog Budget Bytes is quite useful for money minded meals I particularly love her taco bowl slow cooker recipe, it can makes a chicken breast (bone-in is best bang for your buck) last 4 meals "
"The blog Budget Bytes is quite useful for money minded meals I particularly love her taco bowl slow cooker recipe, it can makes a chicken breast (bone-in is best bang for your buck) last 4 meals "
Reddit user wallplant says:
"Instead of spending $500 dollars or more on a new laptop, I bought a Bluetooth keyboard that I can use with my Android smartphone for taking notes. I really have no need for a laptop right now because I can do basically everything on my phone so this is a great money-saver. Also all I have to carry around is a keyboard and maybe some batteries.
". . . I also have Google drive, so it syncs up to my desktop computer at home just in case I lose my phone or it breaks."
Reddit user Jasonrj says:
"If you don't need it, don't own a printer. I print event tickets, directions, etc., all at work."
"If you don't need it, don't own a printer. I print event tickets, directions, etc., all at work."
Reddit user ErinfromAlbany says:
"Verizon botched my bill. It was $190 and it should have been $90. This is a really obvious overage, but saved me $100 by just looking at the amount and picking up the phone for a 25-minute phone call."
"Verizon botched my bill. It was $190 and it should have been $90. This is a really obvious overage, but saved me $100 by just looking at the amount and picking up the phone for a 25-minute phone call."
A commenter on this Reddit thread says:
"You can get space blankets cheap on Amazon. Cheap like maybe a buck and change, and each one will cover two windows.
"Mist the window lightly with plain water on the inside of the glass. Cut a piece of space blanket Mylar maybe a wee bit big and press it against the glass. Work out the wrinkles to your satisfaction and optionally run a box cutter around the edges for a neat fit.
"When Winter comes and you need the solar gain, just peel off the space blanket and fold them for later use.
". . . I can't remember where the heck I got the Bubble Wrap trick, but it's totally awesome, and it is actually the genesis of this tip. Kept me toasty warm last Winter."
Shave Your Old Woolen Clothing to Renew It
"You can get space blankets cheap on Amazon. Cheap like maybe a buck and change, and each one will cover two windows.
"Mist the window lightly with plain water on the inside of the glass. Cut a piece of space blanket Mylar maybe a wee bit big and press it against the glass. Work out the wrinkles to your satisfaction and optionally run a box cutter around the edges for a neat fit.
"When Winter comes and you need the solar gain, just peel off the space blanket and fold them for later use.
". . . I can't remember where the heck I got the Bubble Wrap trick, but it's totally awesome, and it is actually the genesis of this tip. Kept me toasty warm last Winter."
Shave Your Old Woolen Clothing to Renew It
Reddit user punkfluff says:
"Resurrect old woolen clothes using only the power of a cheap disposable razor.
"The razor will rid the pilling from clothes when you run it over them."
Reddit user imanimpostor says:
"Use the stranger test to reduce impulse purchases: when considering a purchase, picture a stranger offering you [the cash value of the purchase] or the item in question. Which is of greater value you? Which would you choose?"
Reddit user ukulelechica says:
"It saves money on cleaning products, because if you keep it clean, you don't have to buy expensive products to cut through all the grime. A simple wipe down with a wet rag will do.
"It saves money at the store, because when my home is clean and organized, I know exactly what I have and don't have so I stopped buying duplicates."
Shop in the ethnic aisle of your supermarket or in ethnic supermarkets — you'll find cheaper fresh produce and meats. Reddit user nickplosion explains why the goods are cheaper:
"It saves money on cleaning products, because if you keep it clean, you don't have to buy expensive products to cut through all the grime. A simple wipe down with a wet rag will do.
"It saves money at the store, because when my home is clean and organized, I know exactly what I have and don't have so I stopped buying duplicates."
Shop in the ethnic aisle of your supermarket or in ethnic supermarkets — you'll find cheaper fresh produce and meats. Reddit user nickplosion explains why the goods are cheaper:
"Ethnic markets sell way more raw produce and meats than your local chain grocery store does. Most grocery stores in America make their money on prepackaged stuff and use their produce departments to "prime" you into feeling hungry and buying something easier. Ethnic markets, on the other hand, serve a clientele that usually have a tighter budget and more mouths to feed. They'll buy more raw ingredients and they'll buy them more often. Therefore, ethnic marts can order more from the supplier and usually get a much better price, since he's got to sell it before it goes bad too."
Reddit user fatrob says:
"Every day when you take off your suit, put the jacket on a hanger and place the trousers on the clamp-style hanger (the type that allows you to clamp the bottom and the whole pant hangs down with no fold). This will ensure that you never have to press your trousers between cleanings. Do not wear the garment for at least a day: it will allow for any creases to fall out on their own. Invest in a good umbrella and overcoat, keep your suit dry, you will not get the puckering at the seams.
"Every day when you take off your suit, put the jacket on a hanger and place the trousers on the clamp-style hanger (the type that allows you to clamp the bottom and the whole pant hangs down with no fold). This will ensure that you never have to press your trousers between cleanings. Do not wear the garment for at least a day: it will allow for any creases to fall out on their own. Invest in a good umbrella and overcoat, keep your suit dry, you will not get the puckering at the seams.
"Depending on the season, either weekly or every two weeks, I will freshen the suits with Dryel (Walmart sells it at less than $11 for a six pack). Dryel works by 'steaming' the clothes in a nylon bag, leaves a light scent, and removes 99 percent of the stains I have thrown toward it. I will steam no more than two garments at a time (instructions say you can do four). Before steaming, I will use the Dryel sheet and go over any stains I notice to pretreat."
Reddit user YYYY says:
"Learn to grow . . . food. It is not hard, and you don't need a lot of tools, either. I mostly use a shovel and five-tine fork. I don't plow, till, or weed — because I don't have many weeds."
And if growing your own food seems intimidating or if you don't have a garden, start by growing herbs in your kitchen.
Make Your Own Detergent
"Learn to grow . . . food. It is not hard, and you don't need a lot of tools, either. I mostly use a shovel and five-tine fork. I don't plow, till, or weed — because I don't have many weeds."
And if growing your own food seems intimidating or if you don't have a garden, start by growing herbs in your kitchen.
Make Your Own Detergent
Reddit user thefingolfin says:
"It only took me about an hour to make a powdered detergent from Borax, washing soda, and bar soap (one cup, one cup, and ½ bar respectively). There are tons of recipes. This is the one I used. The rough cost estimates for me were 900 loads for about $20. Cheapest equivalent was Aldi's detergent at 360 loads for $25."
Check out our simple recipe for DIY detergent.
Reddit user thefingolfin says:
"I've just started testing the waters of brewing with some one-gallon test batches of apfelwein (apple wine). Ciders and meads don't usually require boiling, so there is less initial equipment to purchase, but even for making beer, after the about $150 initial purchase, your batches will run between $20 and $40 for 50 to 60 bottles of beer that's better than from the store. It's not for everyone, but it's a hobby I'm interested in and will save money in the long run."
Reddit user thefingolfin says:
"Instead of a cable package get a Roku player (about $50 to $60 if you look for a cheap model refurbished or on sale — there are plenty of similar items you could get instead) with your choice of Hulu Plus, Netflix, Amazon prime video . . . I will also buy a HDTV antenna."
"Instead of a cable package get a Roku player (about $50 to $60 if you look for a cheap model refurbished or on sale — there are plenty of similar items you could get instead) with your choice of Hulu Plus, Netflix, Amazon prime video . . . I will also buy a HDTV antenna."
Reddit user thefingolfin says:
"Get out of debt, save up a six-month emergency fund, max out an employer-matched 401K plan, then start investing in indexed mutual funds. Make the money you've saved work for you. I think Scott Adam's (Dilbert cartoonist) nine-point plan to personal finance is an easy and clear way that explained the basics tenets of personal finance."
"Get out of debt, save up a six-month emergency fund, max out an employer-matched 401K plan, then start investing in indexed mutual funds. Make the money you've saved work for you. I think Scott Adam's (Dilbert cartoonist) nine-point plan to personal finance is an easy and clear way that explained the basics tenets of personal finance."
Reddit user thefingolfin says:
"I've recently started getting my feet wet in some DIY projects . . . I build a headboard for our bed for under $50. A friend gave us a large wooden spool that my wife and I are going to convert into a table/bookshelf combo. With a few tools and some time, you can save hundreds of dollars and have the satisfaction of building things yourself."
"I've recently started getting my feet wet in some DIY projects . . . I build a headboard for our bed for under $50. A friend gave us a large wooden spool that my wife and I are going to convert into a table/bookshelf combo. With a few tools and some time, you can save hundreds of dollars and have the satisfaction of building things yourself."
Reddit user thefingolfin says:
"Paying for a gym membership, in my opinion, can be a frugal option if it makes you exercise (so many benefits from exercising . . . I need to do it more), but it's very easy and totally free to go for a walk/job/run outside, and from just a monetary perspective, it will save you tons of health care money down the road."
Use a Rewards Credit Card Instead of a Debit Card
"Paying for a gym membership, in my opinion, can be a frugal option if it makes you exercise (so many benefits from exercising . . . I need to do it more), but it's very easy and totally free to go for a walk/job/run outside, and from just a monetary perspective, it will save you tons of health care money down the road."
Use a Rewards Credit Card Instead of a Debit Card
Reddit user thefingolfin says:
For those who have a good handle on their spending, "use a rewards credit card instead of a debit card. I fully understand this is not a good idea for some people. I could tell you several of my friends who I would specifically recommend to not use a credit card. However, in my situation, where I have great mutual accountability between me and my wife, the $300 sign-up bonus and the one to five percent cash back on purchases has been a nice source of extra money and hasn't increased our spending at all."
Reddit user thefingolfin says:
"I will definitely buy a modem (it will cost about $40) instead of renting one for $5 a month."
Use OpenOffice and Google Docs instead of Microsoft Office
"I will definitely buy a modem (it will cost about $40) instead of renting one for $5 a month."
Use OpenOffice and Google Docs instead of Microsoft Office
Reddit user thefingolfin says:
"While some people need the extra features that Microsoft Office provides (such as Excel . . . can't really get a comparable substitute), it amazes me that many people I know do not take advantage of these free and powerful alternatives to a $100 software package."
Reddit user theinfamousj says:
"Take every single (free or low-cost) class that you can find in your area that offers DIY repair skills. Hit up Home Depot or Lowe's to learn how to tile, so that when that one tile inevitably cracks, you will know exactly how to repair it. Ditto plumbing. Learn to solder so you can fix your electronics. Take a basic sewing course so that you can do basic mending. Bump it up a notch and learn to do your own basic alterations, too, so you can get more use out of a trip to Goodwill. Machines may make sewing easier, but they aren't necessary."
Only Drink Water
"Take every single (free or low-cost) class that you can find in your area that offers DIY repair skills. Hit up Home Depot or Lowe's to learn how to tile, so that when that one tile inevitably cracks, you will know exactly how to repair it. Ditto plumbing. Learn to solder so you can fix your electronics. Take a basic sewing course so that you can do basic mending. Bump it up a notch and learn to do your own basic alterations, too, so you can get more use out of a trip to Goodwill. Machines may make sewing easier, but they aren't necessary."
Only Drink Water
Reddit user dahvzombie says:
"Sit on all luxury purchases for at least two weeks. Do research, price comparisons, and think heavily about whether you need the thing. People are emotional, and most of us are guilty of impulse buying — wait it out!"
"Sit on all luxury purchases for at least two weeks. Do research, price comparisons, and think heavily about whether you need the thing. People are emotional, and most of us are guilty of impulse buying — wait it out!"
Reddit user WindyJane says:
"Vinegar . . . vinegar everywhere! This is my main thing. Between Murphy's Oil Soap, dish soap, baking soda, and vinegar, I spend less than $10 a year to keep a clean house. Also has laundry uses, as hair treatment, and so much more. Frugal and the air quality in your house improves."
Here are 23 handy uses for vinegar.
"Vinegar . . . vinegar everywhere! This is my main thing. Between Murphy's Oil Soap, dish soap, baking soda, and vinegar, I spend less than $10 a year to keep a clean house. Also has laundry uses, as hair treatment, and so much more. Frugal and the air quality in your house improves."
Here are 23 handy uses for vinegar.
Reddit user hntingbears says:
"It's OK to say I can't afford to go/do/see______ to friends/coworkers/family, etc. Be honest about your budget as people will understand. I do it all the time now, and it really helps me to keep from overspending on frivolous things."
"It's OK to say I can't afford to go/do/see______ to friends/coworkers/family, etc. Be honest about your budget as people will understand. I do it all the time now, and it really helps me to keep from overspending on frivolous things."
Reddit user coffeeshopgirl7 says:
"Use less of everything. It's terribly wasteful how much product we as Americans use for everyday tasks. The toothpaste doesn't have to be running down your arm to get your teeth clean. One tablespoon of liquid laundry detergent is sufficient for an average load (or you could make your own for a lot less)."
"Use less of everything. It's terribly wasteful how much product we as Americans use for everyday tasks. The toothpaste doesn't have to be running down your arm to get your teeth clean. One tablespoon of liquid laundry detergent is sufficient for an average load (or you could make your own for a lot less)."
Reddit user QueenPigeon says:
"When it comes to big purchases — say, a new car or a big piece of furniture — start looking well in advance. As an example . . . we decided to start the search for a new car. We tossed around all sorts of ideas, colors, makes, models. We scoured Craigslist and talked to friends and family about what they drove. In the end, after taking our sweet time and having extreme patience we found an 4x4 Escape worth over $6,000 and paid $2,000 for it 'cause someone just wanted rid of it."
"When it comes to big purchases — say, a new car or a big piece of furniture — start looking well in advance. As an example . . . we decided to start the search for a new car. We tossed around all sorts of ideas, colors, makes, models. We scoured Craigslist and talked to friends and family about what they drove. In the end, after taking our sweet time and having extreme patience we found an 4x4 Escape worth over $6,000 and paid $2,000 for it 'cause someone just wanted rid of it."
Reddit user thesecretofjoy says:
"I got rid of my car five years ago. I did it when I was still living outside of the city I worked in. My cost to own and operate a vehicle was over $600 a month with car payment, gas, insurance, and maintenance. Now I live in the city and use transit, my bike, and my feet. If I need a car and can't borrow one from a friend, I rent one and still save thousands of dollars a year. Not having a car makes it harder to hop in the car and go spend money when I'm bored."
"I got rid of my car five years ago. I did it when I was still living outside of the city I worked in. My cost to own and operate a vehicle was over $600 a month with car payment, gas, insurance, and maintenance. Now I live in the city and use transit, my bike, and my feet. If I need a car and can't borrow one from a friend, I rent one and still save thousands of dollars a year. Not having a car makes it harder to hop in the car and go spend money when I'm bored."
Reddit user thesecretofjoy says:
"I pay for health insurance and use it to get all the preventative care I'm entitled to. Poor health can bankrupt, so I intend to stay as healthy as possible."
Reddit user WindyJane says:
Adjust Your Thermostat
"Also never pay full price for anything. If you need something, first research the "normal" price then figure out how to get it on sale, coupon, discount store, etc. After researching and taking time on a few things, eventually you'll learn which stores are best for some items, which for others, which to get online vs. in person, etc. Even when grocery shopping, arrange your menu planning around what's in season (it's always cheaper then) and what's on sale. For big-ticket items or planned things like birthday gifts, plan ahead and aim for sale times. You can find lists online of the times of year different things (clothes, electronics) go on their biggest sales and buy them then."
Adjust Your Thermostat
________________________________________________________
25 weeks in, these simple changes should start to become a habit. These are life changes not just to complete the 52 Week Money Challenge. The goal is to change the way you handle your finances and your life.
Challenge Total Week 25 = $325.00
Saving money is hard. It takes discipline and self-control to stick with the plan you developed. This year why not make it easy on yourself?
I am a huge fan of ING (ING has been bought by Capital One and will become Capital One 360. Doesn't look like much will change...). ING lets you automate your savings so you don't have to think about it. The greatest feature is that it takes a couple days to get money transferred back to your checking account. There are a couple ways around this, but not being able to touch the money in your ING accounts is great for medium/long term savings goals.
If you have an ING, or other savings account, simply automate your savings transfers each month according to the chart below and watch the money stack up.
If you don't have a savings account, GET ONE! Not just for this challenge but everyone needs at least one savings account - with an Emergency Fund.
This week 25 should be transferred to your savings account. We are up to $325.00 this year. Things from this point on will start to grow pretty quickly. How are you doing? Any savings light bulbs going off? Have you planned what you are going to do with the money at the end of the year?
Even if you missed weeks 1 through 24, you can still get started today. Deposit $300 into a savings account and you will be caught up.
Keep Up the Good Work!
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